Talking Baseball

Red Sox pitching has done it again!

For the second straight season the Boston Red Sox have pitched a no-hitter. This time it was lefty Jon Lester against the Kansas City Royals. Yes. That is the same Jon Lester who was treated for non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma last season. Lester is the first lefty for the Red Sox to throw a no-hitter in 52 years. The last no-no by a lefty was on July 14, 1956 when Mel Parnell threw one against the Chicago White Sox.

Last year’s no hitter went to rookie Clay Buchholz.

It was the 18th time in Red Sox history that one of their pitchers has thrown a no-hitter. Others to do so recently are Derek Lowe, Hideo Nomo, and Buchholz.

Lester’s line from last night: 9IP, 0 Hits, 2 Walks, 9 K’s.

He struck out Alberto Callaspo to end the ballgame and forever etch his name into the Red Sox history books. Just a side note; catcher Jason Varitek is the only catcher in Major League history to be behind the plate for four no-hitters. The last one to catch three: Charles Johnson.

With this being the 18th no-hitter in Red Sox history, they trail only the Los Angeles Dodgers for second place in no-hitters thrown. The Dodgers have 20.

Here is one more stat for you: the last time a team threw back-to-back no-hitters was in 1974-1975 when the Angels accomplished the feat.

This is only the second time that the Kansas City Royals have been no-hit in franchise history. The one other time they were no-hit, it was by a legit pitcher, Nolan Ryan.

Lester is a testament to cancer survivors all over the country and the world. His teammate, third baseman Mike Lowell, is also a cancer survivor. The moment had to be bitter sweet for him too. Baseball Tonight analyst John Kruk is also a cancer survivor who played in the Majors. The accomplishments of these three players makes cancer patients all over the country and the world see how you can beat the disease and be successful. Accomplishments like these give people hope.

Lester is also a prime example of who deep the Red Sox organization is right now in terms of pitching. If you throw in Buchholz and Justin Masterson, who is pitching later this week, the Red Sox have some of the best young hurlers in the game today.

They are winning the race for arms and for young talent with their hated rivals the New York Yankees.

Congratulations Jon Lester!

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